it came to mind it may be interesting to try to come up with a book or movie title that best describes how you feel about our journey with AD so far. ? it didnt take long for these two old classics to come to mind for me. feel free to add!! besides it may give others good books/movies to see (grin)
' THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIFE" - about 3 men who leave behind the 'good life' to go off to war come back very changed, and to try to 'fit in' again into the life they left behind.. sounds very familiar to how we will have to live 'after'.
"FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS".. war, morals, self preservation, etc.. another similarity to being a caregiver.
'ALICE IN WONDERLAND"? (is this REAL or am I just dreaming?)
"THE WIZARD OF OZ" ("there's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home"....then, with a click of our heels, we WAKE UP from a very bad dream.)
Yeah, If you're going through hell Keep on moving, Face that fire Walk right through it You might get out Before the devil even knows you're there Yeah you might get out Before the devil even knows you're there Yeah.
The story of Job - God lets the devil take everything from him to test his faith. He never forsakes God and is rewarded with more than he had before. Job was told this would all become like 'water under a bridge' - only a blurred memory. Wonder what mine will be?
For me, it's a line in one of my favorite books by Jack London. I think it was in Call of the Wild, but it could have been in White Fang, where the main character is crossing a frozen lake with his team and isn't sure how thick the ice is. Anyway, at a certain point the character says that he has this 'vague feeling of impending doom.' For me, the absolute worst thing about AD ... and my wife is still mostly in early stages ... is that I know the worsening conditions that are coming down the line. But, of course, I don't know just when these major changes are coming. The good thing is that this awareness that another serious fall off another cliff can come any day causes my wife and me to try to make the most of each day we have together. We are definitely aware that tomorrow could be a lot worse. But that 'vague feeling of impending doom' haunts me because I know it WILL get a lot worse ... but when? I wish I knew for sure that we had 3 more good months at this current plateau of "our new normal," or 6 more, or 18 more, or whatever. It is the certainty of the disease worsening ... as it has worsened so much this past year ... coupled with the uncertainty of when more severe declines will come ... that causes a good chunk of my daily stress. And it is precisely when I foolishly let myself go down that path ... a path I know I should stay far away from ... that I hear that one line from that book echoing in my ears again and again ... that vague feeling of impending doom.
Acvann, it isn't always terrible. In fact I would guess that for most of us who've gotten past the middle stages, it's calmer, if sadder, than it was earlier in the disease. For me now, it's just complete boredom and sadness; we have good help and he's happy as long as he can watch tv and be given food. His needs are few now. I do feel like we're over the hump, but there's a long slow slide down to the end.
Briegull, you are so right. Now that my dh is in stage 6 beginning some of 7 it is not nearly as difficult. I think part is because I am better able to handle what is happening. Or maybe it is because I am afraid we may not have much time left and I am trying to be easier on him and I don't fret the small stuff as much. I don't mind having all the responsiblity on my, not that I wanted it, but now that he is so far along, I know that it is all up to me. That is easier for me to handle. Now is the time to keep him happy, safe, and loved. The sadness gets to me often, but he understands this. Yes, I know we are over the hump and now time is more precious than it has ever been.
Sorry TexasJo, but I disagree. Love Story was "Never Having to Say You Were Sorry" (which I disagreed with anyway), but I think most of our spouses would say they were sorry for what they put us through. Mine did many times and that was what got me through many rough times. I think love is being able to say you are sorry .
How about the old title of an old old soap opera...my mom used to watch when I was little..THE EDGE OF NIGHT...we are always on the edge and the on coming changes are always on the dark side.
I did. And it's title is based on the song in the movie I mentioned above with Monty Python called Knights of the Round Table which is about Camelot (Spamalot). I didn't see not being able to put a link in the rules so I'll try it. This is the scene where Arthur decides against going to Camelot because it's 'a silly place' and they are instructed to seek the holy grail instead which leads to the scene in the castle I butchered above. This is a link to UTube and it 1:30 in length. I checked it with McAfee security and it's clear: